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Maker's Notes - Pretty delicate petal-rose colour. This wine offers an expressive, particularly fruity nose with notes of red fruit and citrus. On the palate, this wine shows a beautiful aromatic richness and a perfect balance between the body and the freshness.

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Maker's Notes - This wine has a very expressive nose with notes of violets and fresh strawberries. Supple, rich and complex on the palate, it reveals beautiful aromas of pepper, black fruit and thyme before a long, silky and elegant finish.

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Maker's Notes - A lovely rich and fat hand-picked Chenin Blanc from the heart of France's Loire Valley.  Saumur whites are made from Chenin Blanc and are characteristically crisp and fruity. Here the wine has a pale yellow hue and an intense nose with aromas of ripe stone fruits at first with honey and toasty notes following. Strikingly crisp at first it then shows its real fruitiness and generous, ripe structure. And it wraps up well with a pleasingly fresh and clean citrus finish.

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Maker's Notes - Rocca's Moscato d'Asti comes from 2.5-hectares of 30-year-old vines in the commune of San Rocco Seno d'Elvio in Barbaresco. More specifically, the vines sit in the Montersino Cru in the southern and highest part of the appellation at 350 metres above sea level--so not a typical source. The mature vines and limestone-rich soil here combine to give a wine of tremendous energy and freshness with lovely chamomile, citrus and stone fruit aromatics.

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Wine Spectator 84 - Ripe, showing lemon, earth and copper flavors. Rich, verging on oily, with moderate length. Vermentino, Viognier and Sauvignon. Drink now.

Maker's Notes - Straw yellow with green hues. Aromas of Mediterranean shrubs, brooms and mature pears with underlying saline scents. The viognier gives some delicate notes of exotic fruits.

The flavour profile is savoury and well-balanced with notes of fresh fruit, a fragrant acidity and a long lingering aftertaste of fresh almonds. Very elegant and rich in the mouth.

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Wine Advocate 89 - Matured in a mix of tank and demi-muids, the 2020 Saint-Péray Les Tanneurs boasts scents of ripe pears, melons and a hint of citrus. It's medium to full-bodied and round in the mouth, and while not that rich or concentrated, it's nicely balanced, citrusy and long on the finish.

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This is a pure and naked expression of the Tuscan grape with cherry, dried raspberry, terracotta and bitter almond. The Da.Di reveals compelling richness of fruit and a natural, mid-weight texture followed by dusty tannins.

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Wine Spectator 92 - Plump and bright, with star fruit, green almond and chamomile notes backed by an alluring lemon shortbread accent on the finish. Utterly delicious. Marsanne and Roussanne.

Wine Advocate 89 - The 2020 Crozes Hermitage les Launes Blanc features modest, composed aromas of melon, pear and citrus. It's a mellow, medium-bodied effort that hits the right buttons, delivering ample weight and richness on the palate without sacrificing length on the finish.

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Wine Advocate 91 - Black cherries and crushed-stone aromas are joined by blueberries and hints of cracked pepper in the 2018 Saint-Joseph Deschants. This is atypically full-bodied and concentrated for this cuvée, showing all the glory of the vintage, wrapped in soft, ripe tannins and lingering on the finish.

Vinous 91-93 - Lively aromas of fresh black/blue fruits, olive and pungent flowers are complemented by a building mineral quality. Incisive boysenberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors stain the palate and become sweeter and deeper with air. Rich but well-balanced and energetic, finishing with sharp detail and a lingering floral note shaped by smooth tannins. Aged in a mix of concrete tanks and oak barrels.

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Wine Advocate 88 - the 2012 Lucidus rouge offers Cote Rotie-like olive, underbrush and both blackberry and raspberry-styled fruit. Medium-bodied, elegant and lightly textured, it carries surprising richness and depth. Enjoy it over the coming couple of years as well.

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Wine Advocate 88 - Broad and corpulent, the 2019 Saint-Joseph Deschants Blanc is honeyed on the nose, with ripe pear and melon notes. Full-bodied, rich and round, it appears to be a fast-maturing example of this cuvée.

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Wine Spectator 92 - Tasty lemon curd, verbena white peach and chamomile notes are guided by a flattering whiff of shortbread through the plump finish. Marsanne and Roussanne. Drink now through 2025.

Wine Advocate 88 - Honeydew and cantaloupe notes feature prominently on the nose of the 2020 Saint Joseph les Challeys Blanc, an 80-20 blend of Marsanne and Roussanne. Medium to full-bodied, it's not the biggest, richest Saint-Joseph blanc, but it's smooth, easy drinking and harmonious, with a clean, refreshing finish.

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Wine Spectator 93 - This rich white is backed by lots of freshness, with pineapple, honey cream and mango notes, infused with floral, baking spice and toast details. Graceful, with lots of complexity through the citrusy finish. Drink now through 2026.

Maker's Notes - Clean and vibrant with a straw yellow colour. The nose stands out for the intensity and complexity of its aromas but with the unmistakable personality of Godello; the elegance of careful preparation and respectful ageing. On the palate, it is unctuous and balanced, with a well-integrated acidity and a longlasting aftertaste.

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Vinous 91 The 2015 Barbera d'Alba Gepin is terrific. Dark, rich and voluptuous, but with plenty of structure, the 2015 expresses all of the natural intensity of the year while retaining a very appealing sense of translucency. Succulent dark cherry, plum, spice, leather, mint and dried herbs add to the wine's forward, racy personality.

CRU/JRM  Aged one year in large oak casks.  Good depth on the nose - cherries and stone - quite expansive and plush on the palate with dense fruitiness and some minerality.  Excellent balance and fair density with good length.

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Vinous 93 - The 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Borro del Diavolo is rich and generous in the glass, which is to say very much in the style of the year. Sweet red cherry, orange peel, spice, leather, tobacco, cedar and dried flowers all meld together nicely. There are some elements of rusticity, but they are tempered by the open-knit style of the year. The 2017 spent around 30 months in cask. Readers should expect a decidedly old-school Riserva.

Wine Spectator 92 - Bright, with cherry, currant, mineral and woodsy aromas and flavors, this red is balanced and ready to enjoy. The core of sweet fruit offsets the refined tannins. Firms up on the finish, so there's no rush to drink this. Drink now through 2027.

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Jeremy’s Notes: An entry-level priced Burgundian Pinot Noir with lovely complexity, depth and finish. Vosne-Romanée richness at a bargain price. An inexpensive way to fall in love with fine Burgundy.

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Vinous 88 - Light pink in color. Aromas of fresh flowers, flower stem, watermelon rind and strawberry. On the palate, light and bright, lots of red raspberry, straightforward not too complex.

Wine Enthusiast 88 - With some tannins, this is a full-bodied and ripe sparkling rosé. It has strong wild strawberry flavors that give the wine a very fruity character. A sense of structure enhances the naturally rich nature of the wine.

Wine Spectator 87 - Fresh and nicely rounded, offering plump strawberry, red currant and peach flavors that hang gently on the finish.

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Maker's Notes - Very deep, intense cherry red in colour. It is expressive and elegant on the nose with an outstanding aromatic intensity based on the Tempranillo variety,

the spices and the torrefacto notes from its passage through French oak, bringing richness, volume and complexity to the whole. It is broad and meaty in the mouth with polished tannins and a long and persistent aftertaste.

CRU/JRM - Moro's Malleolus is a consistently top-notch Ribera with great depth, length and satisfying palate.  The 2018 continues a stellar reputation for quality and luxury.

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Maker's Notes - This is a powerful and generous wine expressing itself with delicacy thanks to a very delicate tannic structure. Intense flavors of ripe fruits and spices combined to a fine acidity – a hyphen between richness and strength reflecting perfectly the terroir of Heathcote.

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Wine Advocate 92 - Toasted marshmallow and grilled melon notes appear on the nose of the 2017 Saint-Joseph Les Granilites Blanc. Full-bodied, rich and layered, it represents the next step up from the Deschants bottling. Sourced from the Tournon-Mauves area of the appellation, it's marked by the region's granitic soils, remaining fresh and long on the finish, despite being velvety in texture.

Wine Spectator 92 - Ripe and rich, with brioche, white ginger, creamed melon and green fig fruit flavors entwined together and gliding through the broad, creamy finish.

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Vinous 92-93 - Bright and expansive on the perfumed nose, displaying vibrant dark berry and floral scents that develop spicy character as the wine opens up. In an energetic, fruit-driven style, offering appealingly sweet black raspberry and cherry flavors and suggestions of licorice and candied flowers. Finishes very long and chewy, with building tannins and repeating spiciness.

Wine Advocate 92 -Aged mainly in barrel, the 2018 Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon boasts flamboyant aromas of cracked pepper, clove, baking spices and cedar set against a backdrop of black cherries and black olives. Medium to full-bodied, richly textured and long on the finish, it shows the structure of its granite sources—a sense of tannic restraint that suggests ample aging potential, yet doesn't preclude present-day enjoyment.

Wine Spectator 93 - Fresh and focused, with a lovely beam of dark cherry and bitter plum reduction notes laced with graphite, violet and anise. Racy, tightly focused finish. Best from 2021 through 2029.

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Wine Advocate 92 - The full-bodied, richly textured 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Sinards Blanc is a barrel-fermented blend of Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, all drawn from a single vineyard parcel. Notes of pencil shavings accent honeyed pineapple and white peaches, backed by hints of lime and tangerine in this lush, almost decadent white wine.

Wine Spectator 92 - Bright, high-pitched style, with talc, white peach and jicama notes laced with hints of lime pith and fennel. Nice tension and energy through the mineral-edged finish. Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Clairette.

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WA 93 - The 2011 Victorino is produced with Tempranillo grapes from 35 hectares of ungrafted, old vineyards in the villages of Valdefinjas, Toro and Villabuena del Puente, which fermented with yeasts selected from their own vineyards and aged in new French oak barrels for 18 months. This is the fruitier and more approachable of the three wines I tasted from them, with aromas of clean, ripe, terse fruit, with hints of violets and a pinch of spices mixed with echoes from the soil. The palate is full-bodied, with glossy tannins, dense and ripe, with very good acidity, balanced and elegant. It’s approachable, but should develop more complexity with time in the bottle. 40,000 bottles produced. Drink 2014-2019.

Wine Spectator 93 - A firm structure supports the plush texture of this rich red. Savory notes of espresso and anise mingle with a deep core of plum, black olive and mineral. Not that expressive now, but harmonious nonetheless. Best from 2016 through 2026.

Vinous 92 - Dark purple. Powerful aromas of cassis, licorice, roasted coffee and cocoa powder. Juicy and broad in the mouth, offering dark fruit liqueur flavors lifted by sexy floral and oak spice qualities. Shows real intensity on the creamy, clinging finish, which features polished tannins and a note of smoky minerals.

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Wine Advocate 93 - Drawn from three lieux-dits, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Pie VI is a blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Syrah. Rich and concentrated, it marries dark, boysenberry fruit with hints of chocolate, leather and garrigue. It's full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, grainy finish.

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Wine Spectator 93 - Ripe, fresh and racy in feel, with a well-detailed beam of plum, blackberry and anise notes, laced with violet, white pepper and black olive accents. The sleek finish features an iron hint vibrating like a tuning fork. Drink now through 2036.

Vinous 93 - Inky ruby. Ripe blackberry and cherry liqueur aromas are complemented by suggestions of nallspice, smoked meat, licorice and

violet. Taut, energetic black and blue fruit

flavors show very good depth, and a

smoky mineral element adds lift and

back-end cut. Chewy tannins lend grip to a spicy, floraldominated finish that hangs on with strong tenacity. This wine is made from fruit grown in some of the appellation's top sites, Reynard, Mazard and Saint-Pierre.

Vinous 93 - Bright purple. Powerful dark berry, cherry, incense and licorice scents are accompanied by building vanilla and floral pastille flourishes. Fleshy blueberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors stain the palate and pick up a smoky bacon nuance on the back half. Unwinds steadily with air and finishes chewy and impressively long, displaying alluring sweetness, an echo of florality and youthfully gripping tannins.

Wine Advocate 92 - A blend of grapes sourced from Reynard and Croix St Pierre (near the top of the appellation), the 2017 Cornas Temenos shows greater depth and richness than Les Arenes, with blackberry and black cherry fruit in reserve behind notes of crushed stone and pencil shavings (it's aged in 228-liter oak, 15% to 20% new). Medium to full-bodied, it's firmly structured and promising for the future.

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Wine Advocate - 91: Warm, generous dark fruit, spices and flowers come through in the 2005 Barolo Gattera. This beautifully balanced wine reveals an outstanding sense of proportion and an elegant, refined finish. This is the hottest of the microclimates in the Veglio stable, and has the vines with the most age, both of which were clearly a help in 2005.

Wine Spectator - 91: Very ripe fruit on the nose, with floral and dried berry character. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and impressive concentration that turns to cedar, berry and blackberry.

International Wine Cellar - 90: Good deep red. More subdued and medicinal on the nose than the Arborina; lower-pitched too. Then big, rich and fairly full in the mouth but less forthcoming today and not showing the clarity of flavor of the Arborina. The medicinal quality carries through on the aftertaste, which shows more serious tannins and very good breadth.

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Wine Advocate 91 - The 2011 Barolo Arborina delivers a tight and austere personality. The wine was slightly shut down upon release but has since gained in volume and depth. It shows sharp lines and great definition with plenty of dark fruit, cassis and dried cherry. The tannins are ripe and dry. Only 6,000 bottles were produced.

Vinous 91 - The 2011 Barolo Arborina is dark, fleshy and supple on the palate, with lovely overall presence. Wild flowers, spices, new leather and tobacco all add shades of nuance. The firm Arborina tannins kick in on the finish, giving wine an attractive burst of energy and persistence.

Wine Spectator 90 - A rich version, displaying sweet cherry, strawberry, licorice and spice flavors, this borders on chewy, with dense tannins gracing the finish. Best from 2018 through 2030.

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Wine Advocate 91 - The 2014 Siran has a very refined bouquet with blackberry, briary and light tertiary aromas. There is fine precision here, understated compared to the Sirans of old. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and a keen line of acidity. Linear in style and a little conservative towards the finish, but showing freshness from start to finish. Edouard Miailhe, proprietor of Siran, has really upped the ante here and this 2014 is just a classic Bordeaux claret that should drink well from the start, yet has the substance to suggest it will age with aplomb.

Decanter 91 - This exhibits a big, ripe, fleshy, blackberry nose, with vibrant fruit and a deep red colour. It’s sumptuous, concentrated and very rich, balanced by bold tannins yet not too extracted. It’s quite spicy and just lacks a little drive on the finish, but this is a fine offering from this increasingly impressive estate.

Wine Spectator 89 - Alluring black tea and singed sandalwood notes glide through, backed by accents of supple-edged cherry and plum preserves. Offers a gentle but persistent finish. Drink now through 2024.

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CRU/ JRM - White Chateauneuf is a wine produced in insufficient quantities.  The complexity and elegance, combined with richness makes this a wine of luxury; palate-coating and scrumptious, with persistence and a long, satisfying finish.  Yum.

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Vinous 93 - Deep red. Smoke- and spice accented cherry and vanilla aromas are

complemented by hints of dried flowers,

camphor and pipe tobacco. Sweet and

seamless on the palate, offering juicy red fruit, spicecake and mint flavors that deepen with air. Shows very good energy and appealing floral character on an

impressively long, penetrating finish that's given shape by discreet tannins.

Wine Advocate 92 - The 2006 El Puntido Gran Reserva is pure Tempranillo grapes from the Puntido vineyard that are selected from the eastern-most part of the vineyard close to Laguardia, which is more exposed to the north winds and gives a wine of marked tannins that needs more time in barrel and is ideal to create a Gran Reserva. This wine ages for 24-26 months in barrel and is kept in bottle for a further five years. The 2006 is still dark ruby-colored, with an open and expressive nose of leather, cold bonfire, incense and steak tartar notes and a medium-bodied palate with some gritty tannins and very pure flavors where the leather and meaty notes linger in the aftertaste. This is the most classical wine I’ve ever seen from the Eguren family, and an exceptional effort for the 2006 vintage. Modernity meets tradition!

Wine Spectator 92 - This rich red delivers a mouthful of black currant fruit, with strong notes of espresso, tar and mineral. Full-bodied, backed by muscular tannins and balsamic acidity. A modern style. Drink now through 2026.

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Vinous 92+ - Tobacco, sage, menthol, licorice, leather and dark-fleshed fruits are some of the signatures in the 2013 Barbaresco Ovello Vigna Loreto. Nuanced and expressive throughout, the Ovello is another striking wine from Albino Rocca.

Wine Spectator 92 - A broad, rich style, with dense tannins shoring up the sweet plum, cherry and berry flavors. The tannins are assertive and will need some time to resolve, but everything is in the right place. Best from 2020 through 2032. 216 cases made.

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Wine Spectator - 92: Powerful, wielding its whole-grain bread, nut and graphite aromas and flavours with aplomb. Open rather than dense, despite its weight, richness and well-integrated structure. Fine length leaves you wanting more.

Wine Advocate - 92: The NV Brut Grand Cru is absolutely striking. A big, rich wine, the Brut Grand Cru fills its broad shoulders beautifully, with gorgeous layers of deep, expressive fruit. Sweet floral notes, mint and honey add volume and complexity. The Brut Grand Cru is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, based on the 2009 vintage with the addition of 20% reserve wines. All the elements are in the right place in this superbly crafted wine. Champagne is never inexpensive, but this is easily one of the best wines readers will find in its price range.

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Wine Advocate 94 - The Begali Lorenzo 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is a beautiful wine that shows ample ripeness, with balance. It shows elegant restraint, but it is also exuberant and fully loaded. Its opulent character is very much in line with the hot vintage and the basic promise of Amarone that always prioritizes big intensity and lots of brooding fruit. This estate opts for more Rondinella in the blend, clocking in at about 35%, with 60% Corvina and 5% other complementary grapes. Rondinella adds much of the darkness and the extra concentration you see here. It is aged in French tonneaux and botte for three years. The Lorenzo Begali house style offers oak contours and renderings with extra softness and textural density.

Vinous 93 - Dark, rich and deeply

seductive, the 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico lifts up with notes of

crushed blackberries, balsamic spice, smoke and lifting hints of mentholated

herbs. It’s silky, coating the palate in glycerol-like textures contrasted by

saturating black fruits, salty minerals and bitter cocoa. A fine layer of tannin clamps

down hard, leaving only purple-tinged inner florals and hints of black licorice to

resonate throughout. The 2017 does a wonderful job of straddling both the savory and sweet side of Amarone, but it will require a good amount of cellaring to fully flesh out.

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Vinous 95 - The 2013 Barbaresco Ronchi is superb. Ample and large scaled, as wines from this clay-rich site often are, the Ronchi is firing on all cylinders today.

Layers of dark red stone fruit fill out the wine's ample frame effortlessly. Pine, menthol, anise, citrus peel and tobacco add attractive aromatic overtones, but it is the wine's balance that is most impressive today. Simply put, the Ronchi is a standout.

Wine Advocate 91 - The 2013 Barbaresco Ronchi shows richness and density that grounds this wine firmly to the palate. This is a lasting and enriched expression that offers the intensity and the natural length that characterizes this vintage. Dark cherries and spice segue to balsam herb and cola. This is an elegant and nicely articulated expression from the Ronchi cru.

Wine Spectator 91 - A tightly wound red, with firm, raspy tannins that make the future difficult to predict. With air, sweet cherry, licorice and spice flavors emerge. Fans out nicely on the lingering finish. Best from 2019 through 2032.

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Wine Advocate - 92: Lallement’s NV Brut Grand Cru Cuvee Reserve is cool, implosive and structured, all qualities typical of the 2008 vintage. Sweet floral notes meld into mint, red berries, graphite and crushed rocks. The Reserve is at once rich yet weightless. This edition is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay based on the 2008 vintage with 20% 2009 juice. The low dosage of 4 grams per liter contributes the wine’s tension and energy.

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Vinous 93 - The 2014 Barbaresco Cottà, often a big, bombastic wine, is unusually refined in this vintage. The deep center of fruit that has always defined this wine is present, but there is more freshness and less of the heaviness that often marks this wine. Hints of blood orange, mint and rosewater give the 2014 an exotic upper register. Shades of blue/purplish fruit, lavender, mint and savory herbs add the closing shades of nuance.

Wine Advocate 93 - The 2014 Barbaresco Cottà does not offer the acute high notes that you get with the other beautiful Barbarescos from Sottimano in this vintage. The intensity is broader and flatter, so to speak, but overall, the wine's intensity is just as bright and compelling as the others, albeit in a more subdued manner. Dark cherry and blackberry segue to spice, anise and cured leather. The wine feels soft and rich in texture as well. Some 10% of the wine is aged in new oak barrel.

Wine Spectator 93 - Pretty cherry, floral, mineral and tobacco flavors line this racy red. There is an underlying density to the structure and a lingering aftertaste of fruit, iron, underbrush and tobacco. Best from 2020 through 2033.

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Wine Advocate 98+ - The 2016 Fontalloro is the best vintage of this landmark wine that I have tasted thus far. This is a very elegant vintage, with more volume in the mouth and precise notes of tar, licorice, camphor ash, resin and Indian spice. In a race between the highly competitive 2015 and 2016 vintages, I give a slight advantage to this wine. The warmer 2015 vintage shows more richness and exuberant fruit. However, this wine from 2016 offers a more focused and chiseled delivery. I am hopeful that this wine will continue to evolve and sharpen as it ages in the bottle. This is a beautiful wine to put aside in your cellar for ten years or more.

Vinous 96 - The 2016 Fontalloro is bold,

hearty and deeply flavored, with all of the Sangiovese wildness that is so typical

of Fontalloro. Ripe dark cherry, grilled herbs, smoke, leather, game and incense are some of the many aromas and flavors

that open up in a potent, virile Fontalloro loaded with personality and character. In so many ways 2016 is THE archetype of

what Fontalloro is - a Sangiovese that is a bit wild and unruly but also full of charm.

Wine Spectator 92 - This is rich and polished, with black cherry, blackberry and plum flavors matched to dense tannins and bright acidity. Tips toward the tannic side now, picking up earth, spice and tar notes on the long finish. Best from 2021 through 2028.

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Burghound 90 - Noticeable wood and menthol nuances surround the notably ripe aromas of plum liqueur, violet and soft warm earth nuances. The slightly finer though still obviously powerful flavors possess outstanding richness while delivering better depth and persistence on the firm and ever-so-slightly warm finale.

CRU/JRM - A wine for laying down a few years.  Will reward patience.

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Burghound - 89-92: This is spicy, ripe and seductive and very Vosne with its mix of red and dark pinot fruit aromas that dissolve gracefully into rich, full and very generous fleshy medium-bodied flavors that possess both good volume and depth on the sappy, velvety and persistent finish. This isn't classy or sophisticated but it's easy to admire and has the depth to rise well above the ordinary.

Here the fruit aromas are darker and edged with caramel. In the mouth it is softer and a hint sweeter than the Malconsorts – there’s an impressively intense concentration of fruit in the mid-palate. Again some faint astringency to the tannin – this is a super Chaumes.

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Wine Advocate 92 - Offering up aromas of gingerbread, tangerine and smoky peach, the NV Brut Grand Cru Réserve Rosé is medium to full-bodied, broad and vinous, with a rich but tight-knit core of fruit, racy acids and a pinpoint mousse, concluding with a sapid finish. Disgorged in May 2018, this is a serious rosé that would work well at table.

Jeremy's Notes - Lallement's Grand Cru Brut Rose is one of our customers' favourites.  It has that irresistible balance of flavour, structure and texture that is so attractive and fulfilling.  Just delicious.  Everything you want in a Rose Champagne.

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WA 94 - Slighter richer is the 2015 Gigondas Clos des Tourelles. It shows similar floral notes but fills the mouth with ripe stone fruit and cherries, fine tannins and an incredibly silky finish. All of the Perrin Gigondas show the elegant side of the appellation.

Vinous 92-94 - Vivid ruby. Expressive aromas of blackberry, cherry compote and candied flowers are sharpened by a smoky mineral topnote. Gently sweet and focused on the palate, offering intense red and blue fruit flavors that deepen and spread out slowly with aeration. Shows hints of candied licorice and allspice on a very long, sappy finish that features smooth tannins and an exotic twist of blood orange.

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Wine Advocate 93 - Black cherries and garrigue appear on the nose of the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape, a blend of about 60% to 70% Grenache, plus lesser amounts of Mourvèdre and Syrah. Full-bodied, richly concentrated and tannic, with a long, mouthwatering finish, it's one entry-level CdP that should be cellared a year or two prior to consumption.

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Maker's Notes - The nose is a basket of fruits with yellow and white flesh, where peach and exotic fruits dominate. A few notes of vanilla and brioche add a touch of extra fat. The richness of its mouth unfolds in a long sarabande of persistent aromas.

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CRU/JRM - High-class Vosne with all the richness, elegance and complexity one would expect.  A luxurious wine from a denomination that usually demands dizzying prices.  This is a comparative value proposition.

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Robert Parker - 92: The top-notch 2006 Hermitage La Sizeranne boasts an opaque ruby/purple color along with a sweet bouquet of black raspberries, creme de cassis, acacia flowers, crushed rocks, and subtle wood. Full-bodied, rich, and broad with moderate tannin, good acidity, and a long finish, the 2006 will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age, and keep for 15+ years.

Wine Spectator - 91: A bright, juicy style, with forward raspberry and boysenberry fruit backed by sweet spice and fruitcake hints. The solid, juicy finish has a good graphite edge.

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WA 95 - A much smaller production cuvée, the 2015 Condrieu Clos Boucher (aged 80% in barrel and 20% in stainless steel) is a sensational Condrieu that offers textbook, yet pedal to the metal notes of white peach, tangerine, citrus blossom and hints of minerality. Impeccably balanced, fresh and lively, it should be given six months in bottle and enjoyed over the following 4-5 years.

Vinous 94 - Very light gold. Powerful, mineral-accented orange pith, melon, white peach and violet scents show impressive focus and vivacity. Possesses an impressive blend of depth and finesse, offering concentrated citrus and pit fruit, honey and candied ginger flavors complemented by a subtle anise quality. Finishes with superb mineral cut and lift, leaving suave floral and mineral notes behind. This complex, densely packed wine would complement lighter foods as well as rich ones and, from my experience with older vintages such as the 2005 and 2010, it's a highly reliable cellar candidate.

WS 93 - Ripe and creamy in feel, with pear, quince, almond cream, shortbread and warm brioche notes melded together, backed by a light hazelnut echo on the flattering finish. Drink now through 2020.

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Vinous 90-93 - Deep red. Superripe yet vibrant on the nose, with a sappy lift to the raspberry and spice aromas. Lush, silky and sweet, with underlying minerality giving energy to the raspberry and cocoa powder flavors. This dense but vibrant wine really saturates the palate with flavor. Seems a bit richer in alcohol than most of these 2007s, which is not at all a bad thing.

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Vinous 92 - The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Latitude 1er Cru is a big, vinous wine. Bold, ample and large on the palate, the Latitude exudes power. Dried apricot, roasted nuts and spices are pushed forward in a rich, creamy wine that reflects the personality of these clay-rich soils on the southern edge of Vertus. With time in the glass, the Latitude gains freshness, volume and intensity.

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Wine Advocate 93-95 - The 2018 Hermitage Chante-Alouette is ripe and custardy in feel, with plenty of richness that's balanced by ample freshness. Hints of citrus, melon and white peach mingle easily on the nose and palate, offering a lovely introduction to white Hermitage.

Vinous 93 - Pale, glistening yellow. Penetrating aromas of fresh orchard and pit fruits are accompanied by hints of chalky minerals and pungent flowers. Juicy and concentrated in style, offering pear nectar, white peach and Meyer lemon flavors that tighten up and show fine definition on the back half. The floral note repeats strongly on the energetic finish, which hangs on with impressive, mineral-tinged persistence.

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Wine Spectator 89 - Though rich, a line of juicy acidity runs through this spicy white. Peach, apple, marzipan and orange zest flavors hold court, playing out on the chalky finish. Drink now through 2021.

Vinous 87 - Bright pale yellow. Very ripe aromas of peach, spices, flowers and menthol, with a touch of reduction. Supple, spicy wine with an almost exotic quality to its very ripe stone fruit flavors. A touch aggressive with alcohol in the middle palate but with some balancing sweetness. Finishes with a slightly bitter phenolic edge and decent length.

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Wine Enthusiast 93 - This limited-edition wine is a blend of grand cru Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Aged for 10 years in bottle, it is a steely, structured wine that brings sophistication to the white fruits and lively acidity.

Maker's Notes -

Aspect: Deep yellow I Matte gold

Bouquet: Reserved / Opulent / Macadamia nut

Corinth raisins / Zante currants / Smoke and toast

Palate: Rich pastry / Yet racy / Superb length

Assemblage : Chardonnay / Pinot Noir

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WA 94 - A blend of 90% Marsanne and 10% Roussanne, the 2017 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes Blanc features scents of toasted almond, honey and pineapple. Full-bodied, rich and creamy, it's rounded out on the palate by melon-like fruit, then adds citrus zest, crushed stone and brine on the long finish. Drink it now or after about 10 years.

Vinous 93 - Pale gold. Powerful orchard and citrus fruit scents are complemented by suggestions of smoky minerals, chamomile and fennel. Chewy and broad in the mouth, offering concentrated pear, Meyer lemon and honeysuckle flavors braced by a core of juicy acidity. Delivers a solid punch of ripe pit fruits on an impressively long, focused finish that echoes the floral and mineral notes.

Wine Spectator 93 - This is suave, with macadamia nut, salted butter and verbena notes weaving around a core of creamed Jonagold apple, star fruit and Bosc pear flavors. Everything entwines seamlessly through the finish. Best from 2021 through 2028.

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WS 95 - This is loaded with well-defined loganberry, blackberry and boysenberry pâte de fruit flavors, flecked with anise and black tea notes and carried by a fine iron streak that lingers wonderfully. A wine of cut, purity and precision. Best from 2020 through 2035.

WA 94 - A blend of Syrah grapes from several lieux-dits, including Les Bessards, the 2015 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes is aged in new and second use barrels. It's a dark, concentrated wine, meaty, rich and tannic but with a bright beam of cassis fruit that lifts it and gives it great definition and shape on the palate. Give this medium to full-bodied wine at least 5 years in the cellar and drink it over the next 15.

Vinous 92-94 - Inky ruby. Dark fruit and floral scents unfold slowly to reveal Indian spice and mineral accents. Densely concentrated cassis and blueberry flavors are lifted by a core of smoky minerality and a jolt of cracked pepper. Smoothly plays richness off vivacity and finishes impressively long and chewy; dusty tannins frame the sweet dark fruit.

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Wine Advocate 96+ - The 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau is a hugely successful vintage, marked by scents of sun-warmed stones, garrigue, black cherries and black olives. Full-bodied, rich and velvety, it finishes with tremendous length and softly dusty tannins, which should help ensure a long, positive evolution.

Wine Spectator 93 - Silky and refined, with focused cherry puree, plum reduction and raspberry coulis notes racing through, infused subtly with rose petal, warm stone and lavender hints. Features nice perfume through the finish. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2036.

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Wine Spectator 95 - Rich and lively, this red is powerful and expressive, showing black cherry, currant, licorice, tar and mineral flavors. Ripe but balanced, with well-integrated tannins and fresh acidity supporting the deep core of fruit. Drink now through 2034.

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Wine Advocate 95-97 - Another in a string of top vintages, Beaucastel's 2018 Chateauneuf du Pape was produced from Grenache yields of only eight hectoliters per hectare ("normal" is about 28 hectoliters per hectare, according to Marc Perrin). The final blend I was shown is almost candied in its fruity intensity of raspberries and cherries, yet it has a potent underpinning of more savory elements, like tapenade, grilled meat and dried spices. Full-bodied, with fine, silky tannins, this shows tremendous length, reverberating with hints of crushed stone on the finish.

Vinous 92-94 - Deep ruby-red. Ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur and hints of garrigue, smoked meat and potpourri on the mineral-accented nose. Palate-staining black currant and cherry pie flavors show excellent clarity, chewy texture and a hint of spicecake that builds as the wine opens up. The energetic, impressively long finish repeats the floral and dark fruit notes, and youthfully chewy tannins add shape and solid closing grip.

Decanter 96 - This is a towering, muscular Beaucastel this year with more depth, intensity and black fruit, pushing towards blackcurrant. It’s very dense and extremely concentrated in 2018, more than most but it has the energy and the vibrancy to thrust it front and forward ending with a saline finish. Grenache and Cinsault fermented in cement, Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in foudre.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 - Moving to the reds, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape showed nicely with a deep ruby/purple color as well as classic Beaucastel aromas and flavors of darker currents, blueberries, smoked meats, black licorice and roasted herbs. With medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, clean, elegant texture, sweet tannins, and a great finish, this seamless, elegant Beaucastel will be approachable in its youth, yet still have 20+ years of prime drinking.

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Wine Advocate - 96: The 2007 Malleolus de Sancho Martin is a bit more reticent aromatically than the Valderramiro but with a very similar profile. On the palate it has greater volume as well as a bit more structure. Opulent, rich, and concentrated, it will reward extended cellaring and offer prime drinking from 2016 to 2037.

Wine Spectator - 95: This powerful red delivers traditional character with a modern swagger. This is packed with black cherry, licorice, tobacco and mineral, yet accents them with cola, toast and vanilla. The tannins are rugged yet well-integrated, carrying the fruit and spice through the long finish. Best from 2012 through 2020. TM

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